To find London utterly flaming unmanageable

[MoreBushThanMoss]

With a pushchair!!!

Lived here 8 years. Currently live in Maida Vale. Used to be a Hackney living, media working, up all night sort of girl (before DP and DS) - and prided myself on never feeling flustered or frustrated in the city.

Just met friend for lunch in London Bridge.

Fuck me if I ever want to leave cosy comfy baby friendly Maida Vale again!!!

Nowhere is accessible, tube almost unmanageable without DP to help with buggy and people are RUDE. (okay some - few- are helpful)

also nowhere has baby changing!!!

There are lots of babies in London - surely not just my DS... So why is it so impossible?!

I really feel incensed for people who have mobility issues now.

Rant over. Going back to Maida Vale to eat fudge and read mumsnet.

(Having a baby changes you.)

I suppose it depends on your pushchair. I find that I can folde my city mini jogger in one hand and hold dc if needed ie no lift access

Buses and overground are easier; I find that I have to organise my journey a bit more when I'm using the tube. You can take the pushchair on the escalators, it's just awkward. And to be honest I've always had people offer to help when I've had a buggy with me. Try using a sling maybe?

Was going to say the same as WheresTheEvidence. I had a City Mini for both of mine - now youngest has just turned 2 have a lightweight stroller that I can carry up and down steps with him in it. And a portable changing mat means you can change them on the floor if you need to (I have many times!). It can be a pain but I wouldn't say unmanageable.

YANBU London Bridge is a hideous station to navigate even without a buggy!

Sorry - drip feed - DS is 14 weeks. Have the babyzen yoyo which does collapse like a transformer, but not easy with such a small baby.

Have an ergo baby carrier but DS FAR too massive to use with the insert - yet not enough head control without it- so waiting a couple of weeks to deploy it when he hopefully will be more consistent with head and neck.

Just in a cab feeling a bit defeated and needed a whinge

Agree with lightweight one-hand foldable pushchair, portable changing mat and buses. Northern Line difficult for pushchair of any kind.

This time of year nothing much works properly, OP, so your experience was no doubt worsened by that.

In my experience, people do help, though.

It's the day before NYE

It's going to be rammed packed full of tourists, so I'm not surprised it was difficult.

For the future, there are lots of McDonald's with baby changing facilities.

In the most sympathetic way OP, I don't think it's London that's the problem.

You're having to navigate a whole new way of doing things because you have a tiny person in tow. And it's a massive PITA because you're used to picking up your bag and coat and walking out of the house, jumping on the tube or the bus and it not being a hassle. Babies cause hassle.

You get used to it.

It definitely takes a bit of getting used to with the first one OP! You will be an old hard in no time, honestly.

Not at all my experience of having 3 babies in London, but a mclaren or similar buggy is essential. I always found loads of people offering to help on stairs etc and if not I could lift the buggy with child in situ myself. Now Paris is another level entirely, I remember visiting with a baby and having a nightmare.

Hand not hard!

Bollocks does nowhere have Baby Changing in London Bridge. Go there all the time with my 1 year old DD and use the pram all the time on the Tube but you do have to prep your stations. Enjoy your peace in the taxi but it really doesn't have to be a faff

The works around London Bridge don't help either. I travelled through that station daily for years and I almost got lost last week trying to get into Tooley St

Just did it with a double buggy because DH forgot to pack the slings (twins) when we visited at Christmas. It is a bit tough, but not unmanageable even with two. I'm afraid you've also made the classic new parent error of getting the wrong pram for your needs. Something lightweight which would go on an escalator easily is ideal. I made the same mistake with my first.

I'd take issue that people are rude though, I have found Londoners practically fall over themselves to be helpful to parents. The only time I've found this not to apply is when parents are being dumbass, e.g. trying to fit a tank of a buggy on a tube at rush hour without folding or blocking doors/passageways.

You'll get used to it, it's just a whole new way of planning and preparing.

Have to say though I've always found help easy enough around London. Many times I have been getting things sorted to bump or lift up and down stairs and someone has just grabbed the front of the buggy and started on the stairs.

Backpacks are a must and easily accessible pockets for the little bits you need.

Also just change baby on your lap or in the buggy if you can't find a changing room anywhere.

I'm not usually this much of a fanny - and have already taken DS all over uk by public transport to see friends and family.

But just today has me really upset for some reason.

Maybe just contrast between Me and best friend who's still living our old life. And isn't going bald like me because of hormones. And doesn't have to live her life in fear of dropping new baby down stairs in restaurants en route to change a nappy.

love love love being a mum. Adore DS. Just wish I could rearrange the world for our accommodation !!!

bill babyzen one of lightest buggies available

I hear you. I did a similar trip but from East into London Bridge with my new DD and it was exhausting. You have to plan your route to be step free, it's knackering and knocks your confidence but I reckon the more you do it the easier it gets

Many times I have been getting things sorted to bump or lift up and down stairs and someone has just grabbed the front of the buggy and started on the stairs.

Same! I can remember someone just kind of 'taking off' with the buggy, without saying a word. I was and

Get a new sling, an ergo is crap if you can't use for a baby that's what a sling is for. Boba 4g, newborn-4years. Leave pram at home.

You can usually find baby changing facilities in the big departments stores and stations, and in some restaurants.

I came on to be all 'you're being ridiculous' but then I saw your baby is only 14 weeks old so I will let you off! But London Bridge is actually one of the most accessible stations in London and there are loads of places with baby changing. You might have to go to different restaurants that you did before you had kids but that's something to embrace because it's life now. What I've learned is you can't be as spontaneous so it's always worth researching and booking a restaurant that does have baby changing. And if you're just mooching about the loos in Southwark cathedral and those actually in the station have babychanging, or you can pop into the hospital. The restaurants at more london etc are all pretty family friendly.
When the baby is bigger I find the southbank an awesome day out for toddlers/preschoolers, always something going on and a nice walk in between London bridge and Waterloo.

Also I find Londoners are super helpful with buggies, never ever been left stranded in 5 years of travelling about ŵeekly with a pram.

I was visiting London when DD1 was a baby and was changing from one underground line to another, I can't remember which station it was but it involved going down a huge escalator. A lady said she would help me down the escalator with the pushchair and my bag. When we got there she said that this was actually her stop so she had to go all the way back up again. I was and very grateful!

YANBU.
I have raised five kids in London. Its can be a nightmare to get around.
I am sure other cities are too but The underground is horribly inaccessible, over ground too.
London is so spread out you can't avoid public transport.

I love buggies. I have had some outrageous ones, bought purely for their looks and capacity to carry shed loads of shopping but I always had a umbrella buggy waiting for the moment the baby was big enough to go in it.

Back in the day that meant a saggy, deckchair McClaren stroller but you can get some pretty good ones now.

I never got on with slings and carriers.